Device for removing radiator caps

ABSTRACT

A device for safely removing radiator caps from hot radiators comprising a shield member which can be supported from the radiator and which includes a top and a side wall with a seal being disposed within the top. A shaft having a handle end and a cap engaging end is slidably received through the seal so that it can be moved into engagement with a cap on a radiator to enable the cap to be remotely manipulated by the handle, thereby enabling its removal while the shield means prevents hot water flowing from the radiator from scalding the operator.

United States Patent 1191 Harper [111 3,837,242 [451 Sept. 24, 1974 DEVICE FOR REMOVING RADIATOR CAPS [76] Inventor: Lester E. Harper, 1111 E. 49th St.,

Odessa, Tex. 79762 [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 326,846

[52] US. Cl. 8l/3.l R, 81/90 D [51] Int. Cl ,B67b 7/44, B25b 29/00 4 [58] Field of Search 81/3.1 R, 3.34, 90 B, 90 D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,897,945 2/1933 Dooley 81/177 UJ 3,014,389 12/1961 OHara. 81/90 D 3,371,563 5/1968 Lall0. 81/90 D 3,570,009 3/1971 Spruell 81/90 D 3,618,428 11/1971 Phipps 8l/3.1 R

3,638,515 2/1972 Lentz 8l/3.l R

Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marcus L. Bates [5 7 ABSTRACT A device for safely removing radiator caps from hot radiators comprising a shield member which can be supported from the radiator and which includes a top and a side wall with a seal being disposed within the top.

A shaft having a handle end and a cap engaging end is slidably received through the seal so that it can be moved into engagement with a cap on a radiator to enable the cap to be remotely manipulated by the handle, thereby enabling its removal while the shield means prevents hot water flowing from the radiator from scalding the operator.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR REMOVING RADIATOR CAPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Everyday several people are. injured because they foolishly remove a cap from a hot radiator. In both the summer and the winter seasons, radiators of an internal combustion engine often become over-heated and cause the coolant therein, when the cap is removed, to be expelled from the cooling system thereof. Filling station attendants, when servicing a car, habitually inspect the water level of the radiator as well as servicing the remainder of the vehicle. Hardly a week goes by that a filling station operator does not narrowly miss being scalded because he removed the cap of a radiator in an improper manner, or because the radiator cap did not properly function during its removal.

In order to overcome the problem of removing caps from radiators under steam pressure, filling station personnel have resorted to the use of heavy asbestos gauntlet-type gloves which afford ample protection to a limited portion of ones hand. However, the glove does not protect the remainder of ones anatomy should the boiling hot water gush from the radiator upon removal of the cap.

Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to remove the cap from a radiator by manipulating the cap from a remote location. It is also desirable to have provided a shield which can be interposed between the radiator inlet and the person manipulating the cap. Moreover, it would be desirable that such an improvement over the prior art be low in cost, simple in design, and foolproof in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprehends a safety device for enabling caps to be removed from hot radiators comprising a downwardly and outwardly opening shield member which can be supported on a radiator with the radiator being received within the downwardly opening portion of the member, and with the cap being enclosed'therewithin so that the cap can be remotely manipulated with the shield being interposed between the operator and the source of hot scalding water.

The outwardly opening portion of the shield member enables hot steam and water to escape therefrom and be directed away from the operator.

The shield member is in the form of an enclosure having a side wall and a top, with a seal means being provided in the top. A shaft slidably received through the seal means includes an external manipulated end and an internal cap engaging end. Means are provided for aligning the cap engaging end of the shaft with a cap when the shield means is placed about the radiator so that the shaft can be remotely moved into cooperative relationship respective to the cap, whereupon the cap can be engaged by the cap engaging end of the shaft,

thereby permitting removal thereof.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of a safety device for enabling caps to be removed from hot radiators in a new and improved manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield having means associated therewith for manipulation of a radiator cap.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shield means which precludes escaping hot water and steam from injuring a person removing a cap from a radiator.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a shield and a radiator cap removing apparatus which en- 5 ables one to isolate his person from the radiator outlet while remotely removing the cap therefrom.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision ofa combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 sets forth an elevational, partly broken, side view of apparatus fabricated in accordance with the present invention, anda radiator having a cap thereon is shown in phantom underlying the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, with some parts thereof being shown in section so as to better disclose the invention;

FIG.'4 is an enlarged, part cross-sectional, fragmentary view of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is disclosed apparatus 10, made in accordance with the present invention, which is a safety device for enabling caps to be removed from hot radiators. The apparatus comprises a shield 11 in the form of a downwardly and outwardly opening housing. The shield member is shown in overlying relationship respective of an automotive radiator 12 having a closure member 13, hereinafter called a cap, removably affixed to the upper extremity 14, hereinafter called top, of a radiator. The front of the radiator is illustrated by the numeral 15.

The shield member outwardly opens at 16 and downwardly opens at 17, and further is provided with a rearwardly and a downwardly projected wall portion 18 for engaging the forward portion of an automotive radiator. Optionally provided in conjunction with the invention is a handle 19 having a beefed-up attachment means 20 by which it is rigidly secured to the shield.

A removable handle 21 is affixed to the marginal upper extremity of a longitudinally extending shaft 22, with the shaft being slidably and rotatably received through the top 23 of the shield. Numeral 24 generally illustrates a universal which interconnects a cap engaging member 25 to the lower marginal cap engaging end portion of the shaft.

As best seen illustrated in FIG. 2, the shield includes spaced side walls 26, 27, joined together by the illustrated rolled fender 28, which rigidifies the shield structure and additionally provides a curved top surface for the shield.

Looking now to the details of FIG. 3, in conjunction with the remaining figures, there is disclosed the beforementioned universal joint or coupling member which allows free swiveling in any direction. The universal joint is comprised of U-shaped member 29 having an axially aligned female cavity 30 for receiving therein the cap engaging end of the shaft. Diametrically opposed bores 31 are provided in the member in the indicated manner, while cavity 32 is formed so as to provide ample room for receiving the central body 33 ofa cross or spider therein. The spider has the usual depending opposed cylindrical-like members 34, 35, extending therefrom so that one of the members can be engaged with one of the beforementioned bores 31.

U-shaped member 36 can be identical to member 29, and is likewise provided with cavity 37, opposed bores 38, and a female cavity 39 for removably receiving the male tool joint 41 therein. The cap engaging member 25 is provided with a cutout or recess 40 which forms the illustrated opposed legs for releasibly engaging a cap so that it is captured therewithin.

As seen in the illustration of FIG. 4, the shield is provided with a cage-like member 42, 43, for capturing a ball 44 therewith. The ball is provided with a bore through which the shaft is slidably received. O-rings are provided between the shaft and the bore so as to provide sealing engagement therewith. Annulus 45 provides ample angular motion of the shaft.

Looking now to the details of FIGS. and 6, the cap engaging member 25 is seen to be provided with a downwardly disposed side 46 which is turned horizontally a limited distance and then turned back upward at 48 so that when a cap is received within cavity 47, the side walls and the upwardly turned end 48 will releasibly and resiliently engage the cap so that when the cap is removed from the radiator it will remain captured by the cap engaging member.

In operation, the shield is placed on top of the radiator with portion 18 engaging the front thereof. Lever 22 is moved into operative position relative to the cap and the handle 21 is pushed in a downward direction causing legs 46 to slightlyspread and engage the cap in the illustrated manner of FIGS. 5 and 6. The handle 21 is next rotated while the downward thrust is applied thereto so as to release the cap from the radiator. Should the cap overrun its usual first position and be completely released from the radiator, hot steam emerging from the radiator will be forced through opening 16 and into the engine compartment because of the presence of the shield member. As soon as the hot escaping vapors and liquids stop flowing, the shield is removed from the radiator and the cap slid from the cap engaging member by sliding the cap in an upward direction relative to the illustration of FIG. 5.

As the steam and hot water emerge from the radiator, the curved upper portion of the shield causes the flow to be directed predominately through inlet 16, although some of the flow will follow the wall adjacent to the operator when it will emerge between edge portion 18 and the front of the radiator 15.

I claim:

1. A safety device for enabling caps to be removed from hot radiators comprising a downwardly and outwardly opening shield member which can be supported on a radiator with the cap being enclosed therewithin;

said shield member being in the form of an enclosure having a side wall and a top; a seal means in said top;

a shaft slidably received through said seal means and having a manipulating end and a cap engaging end;

means for aligning said cap engaging means with a radiator cap when said shield means is placed about said cap;

said means for aligning said cap engaging means with a radiator cap includes a ball having a passageway formed therethrough; means in said top capturing said ball; a marginal length of said shaft being slidably received through said passageway, so that said shaft has free swiveling in all directions.

2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein said means for aligning said cap engaging means includes a universal joint interposed in said shaft to thereby enable free swiveling of said cap engaging means in all directions.

3. The safety device of claim 1 wherein said shield member includes spaced sidewalls and a rear wall having a downwardly directed lower portion for engagement with a forward portion of a radiator; and, a fender formed above said outwardly opening for directing steam into the engine compartment of a vehicle.

4. The safety device of claim 1 wherein said cap engaging means includes a cavity formed by spaced legs having end portions bent back toward each other and having upwardly directed terminal ends for engaging and capturing a radiator cap therewithin. 

1. A safety device for enabling caps to be removed from hot radiators comprising a downwardly and outwardly opening shield member which can be supported on a radiator with the cap being enclosed therewithin; said shield member being in the form of an enclosure having a side wall and a top; a seal means in said top; a shaft slidably received through said seal means and having a manipulating end and a cap engaging end; means for aligning said cap engaging means with a radiator cap when said shield means is placed about said cap; said means for aligning said cap engaging means with a radiator cap includes a ball having a passageway formed therethrough; means in said top capturing said ball; a marginal length of said shaft being slidably received through said passageway, so that said shaft has free swiveling in all directions.
 2. The safety device of claim 1, wherein said means for aligning said cap engaging means includes a universal joint interposed in said shaft to thereby enable free swiveling of said cap engaging means in all directions.
 3. The safety device of claim 1 wherein said shield member includes spaced sidewalls and a rear wall having a downwardly directed lower portion for engagement with a forward portion of a radiator; and, a fender formed above said outwardly opening for directing steam into the engine compartment of a vehicle.
 4. The safety deVice of claim 1 wherein said cap engaging means includes a cavity formed by spaced legs having end portions bent back toward each other and having upwardly directed terminal ends for engaging and capturing a radiator cap therewithin. 